Returnees and Displaced Persons and Humanitarian Questions

Chairperson,

Distinguished delegates,

At the outset, I wish to take this opportunity to thank United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for his report on the work of his office with regard to refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons.
The report recognizes 11.4 million refugees, 26 million displaced due to conflicts and 26 million more displaced due to natural disasters world wide by the end of 2007. The alarming rise in displacements and number of refugees due to humanitarian crises, conflicts, natural disasters and climate change demands an increased and urgent attention of the international community. It is our common responsibility to ensure transparency, neutrality and impartiality in coordination of international humanitarian response to this problem.

Chairperson,

The problems of refugees must be seen in the context of humanitarian needs of refugees as well as socio-economic and political realities of host communities and countries.
The protracted presence of refugees in any country entails political, social, economic and environmental consequences which need to be fully appreciated, evaluated and compensated. While the interest of international community is acknowledged in this regard, efforts to rehabilitate damaged eco-system and socio-economic structures need to be redoubled. UNHCR should ensure international assistance to the host countries in developing refugee impacted areas and host communities that have been adversely affected by the presence of refugees.
Global rise in food prices and climatic affects have further impacted the ability of the developing states to provide for the requirements of huge refugee populations within their boundaries. New international initiatives need to be proposed to target malnutrition and disease among refugees particularly among women and children.
We hope that UNHCR in cooperation with host governments would develop viable programmes and projects to address all these concerns.

Chairperson,

Pakistan has hosted the largest refugee population in the world since 1980s. At the peak level, the refugee population stood at 4 million. In February 2007, the Government of Pakistan in coordination with UNHCR completed the first ever registration exercise of Afghans in Pakistan. Over 2.1 million Afghans were registered which forms 10% of the global refugee population.
While we respect the principles of voluntarism in repatriating Afghans refugees, the returns have to be sustainable. In this context, it is important to create a pull factor for the voluntary return of refugees inside Afghanistan including through designing of viable individual and family return packages. Rehabilitation and sustainable re-integration of Afghan refugees into their own society will immensely contribute to regional stability.
Until their repatriation, International community must share the responsibility for the maintenance of Afghan refugees in Pakistan as international funding for this purpose has considerably reduced since 2002. The assistance regime needs to be strengthened if we are to achieve meaningful results.

Chairperson,

At the beginning of the 21st Century, people continue to flee from threats to their lives and property. We recognize our common responsibility to these people. There must be ways and means to provide protection to them in a manner which does not create new political, economic and social tensions and issues. Pakistan will remain engaged in efforts to rescue victims, provide them shelter and ensure their repatriation with dignity and honour to their own countries.

I thank you Chairperson.

Pakistan Mission to United Nations